Hello, I'm Quincy the California Quail, and I live in Sequoia National Park located in the great state of California! I make beautiful nests in the large Sequoia trees within the park and I would like to share a story about the time my habitat was threatened by a wildfire. 

One night on August 19th 2020, a lightning strike started a wildfire in the woods! A wildfire is a large uncontrollable fire that can harm people, plants, and animals in the forest. My friends and I left our homes to get to safety. 

Wildfires can start naturally through lightning, volcanic eruptions, heat waves, droughts, and more. They can also be started accidentally though human activity such as leaving campfires unattended or throwing away flammable items.

Accidental wildfires can be very dangerous because they can destroy trees and nests. Natural fires can help clear the forest floor, and help more plants grow!

Hey Quincy, where do wildfires normally occur? 

Wildfires can start anywhere worldwide, but are very common in hot, dry, heavily-wooded areas such as California. 

When Quincy and his friend Martha escaped the fire, Martha had a few questions. 

I heard that scientists can predict when wildfires are going to start, is that true?

That's true! Scientists use tools called Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to measure rainfall and temperature, which helps them predict which areas might be more vulnerable to fires. Let's get some sleep and we can explore the damage tomorrow!

The next morning, Quincy and Martha explored the area that had been affected by the wildfire. As they flew past the burned vegetation, they commented on what they noticed. 

Wow, look at all this ash and smog!

Yeah, wildfires can harm the environment by contributing to CO2 emissions, which can lead to global warming. Plus, now that our nests have been destroyed, we'll have to find another place to live and drink fresh water!

CO2?? Global warming?? Quincy, I think these fumes might be messing with your head!

No silly, CO2 stands for carbon dioxide, which is a gas released into the air when something burns. If there's too much carbon dioxide in the air, it will start absorbing more sunlight and raising average temperatures. This causes all kinds of problems!

That sounds pretty bad. California is already hot as it is!

You can say that again! Global warming limits our access to fresh drinking water, and makes it harder for us to survive in this ecosystem. It's best for us to avoid dangerous forest fires whenever possible. Then, we can prevent global warming!